How about… just taking out this chubby kid

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu did not decline. Taking the spirit talismans, they could immediately feel the pure spatial energy and stable structure contained within, its quality more than a notch higher than before.

The three of them spoke no more. Their figures flickered as they completely concealed their auras, transforming into three inconspicuous streaks of light that silently sped toward the increasingly chaotic ruins of the Demon Heaven Sect.

Just as they returned to the vicinity of the Demon Heaven Sect's former site, they found the scene before them to be even more chaotic than before they went into seclusion.

The massive palm-print abyss still stretched across the earth like a scar on the world itself, exuding a terrifying pressure and Daoist resonance.

But at this moment, the edges of the palm print and the outer territories of the former Demon Heaven Sect resembled a massive, clamorous hybrid of a marketplace and a battlefield.

Streaks of light of all colors shuttled back and forth. Shouts, sounds of combat, Dao discussions, and bargaining intertwined.

Countless cultivators swarmed like a plague of locusts, occupying every possible spot that might contain Daoist resonance or resources.

Large and small temporary camps and crude cave dwellings could be seen everywhere, with banners fluttering in the wind, belonging to various sects and factions.

The air was not only filled with lingering auras of destruction and pure spiritual energy, but also an added metallic tang of blood and a hair-trigger tension.

Good heavens... It hasn't even been that long, and this place has practically turned into a wet market! Fatty Wang clicked his tongue in amazement.

Xiao Ruobai's divine sense stirred. His powerful Heaven and Human Realm spiritual sense spread out silently like invisible quicksilver, instantly absorbing the chaotic information within a radius of dozens of miles into his perception.

Conflicts, negotiations, spying, trading... a chaotic yet authentic portrait of humanity emerged in his mind.

Fatty, go gather some intelligence and see what the current situation is, Xiao Ruobai instructed.

In a place like this, teeming with all sorts of characters, Fatty Wang's street smarts were often more effective than brute force.

Orders received! Watch your Grandpa Fatty go to work!

Fatty Wang chuckled. With a sway of his body, he slipped into the crowd like a fish in water. He was soon rubbing shoulders and exchanging pleasantries with several seemingly well-informed rogue cultivators, occasionally letting out exaggerated bursts of laughter.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, meanwhile, found a relatively secluded cliff. They gazed at the chaotic land from afar, quietly awaiting Fatty Wang's news.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Fatty Wang returned, his plump face bearing a look of schadenfreude and an eagerness for drama.

Big Brother, Second Brother, I've got the scoop! This place is absolutely bustling right now!

Fatty Wang lowered his voice and began to report, his face lighting up with excitement:

First, the Cloud Mist Sect has exploded in an uproar! Their Heaven and Human Realm Grand Elder, along with several core disciples, weren't they... uh, I mean, they've gone missing!

The entire Cloud Mist Sect is furious right now, acting like red-eyed mad dogs! They are searching everywhere for them!

Second, those two giant factions, the Myriad Law Pavilion and the Haoran Sect, are about to tear each other apart! I heard it's over a newly discovered Earth-grade spirit vein, and a top-tier Earth-grade one at that, just one step away from becoming Heaven-grade.

It is located fifty miles southwest of here, a hidden spot where the Demon Heaven Sect used to cultivate high-grade spiritual herbs.

Neither of these two great powers is backing down. They have each dispatched five Heaven and Human Realm elders alone. They even clashed a couple of days ago; the Myriad Law Pavilion lost a few Cave Heaven Realm elders, and the Haoran Sect suffered heavy casualties too. They are fighting with real bloodlust now.

Both sides are also desperately trying to rope in the small and medium-sized sects to take a stand, using threats and bribes, making a complete mess of things!

"Thirdly, there are even more of those miscellaneous factions. People from Cold Moon Valley, Heavenly Derivation Sect, Burning Heaven Palace... they've all sent someone, all wanting a bite of this big cake. Right now, this place is simply a powder keg ready to explode!"

Fatty Wang was getting excited as he spoke, his small eyes narrowing into an expression that clearly said, "I've spotted a fat sheep."

"I found out that the people from the Azure Profound Sect have also arrived! Led by a few elders, they brought dozens of elite disciples. However, they are quite low-key and haven't gotten involved in the fighting. They just found a highly defensible spot in the southeast corner and set up a temporary camp. It seems they are surveying the terrain and gathering intelligence. Looks like they want to make a fortune in silence..."

At this point, he deliberately lowered his voice, wearing a sly, you-know-what-I-mean smile.

"We can keep a close eye on them. This bunch looks quite loaded; maybe we can play the oriole waiting behind the mantis, hehe..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fatty Wang felt the surrounding air inexplicably turn cold.

He subconsciously looked up, meeting Xiao Ruobai's calm, placid gaze that seemed to see right through a person's heart.

Glancing at Fang Hanyu next to him, although his face remained expressionless, those cold eyes were also fixed on him, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly against the hilt of his sword.

The smug smile on Fatty Wang's face instantly froze. He subconsciously shrank his chubby neck, feeling a bit creeped out.

"Uh... Big Brother, Second Brother?"

Feeling baffled, he muttered softly, "Wh-what's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Is there something wrong with this Azure Profound Sect?"

Seeing that the two didn't speak but only looked at him with even quieter eyes, he felt even guiltier and hurriedly tried to explain, throwing in some self-righteous analysis.

"No... Big Brother, Second Brother, don't underestimate this Azure Profound Sect! Let me tell you, it's based on intuition! My intuition has always been very accurate!"

The more he spoke, the more he felt he was right. His small eyes began to shine again as he tried to convince the two.

"Think about it! In this kind of chaotic situation, a sect that can remain so composed and not fight or snatch things is either full of true cowards, or... they have a huge scheme! They're holding back some wicked plan!"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice even more, and said mysteriously, "I think they are the latter! They absolutely want to be the sneaky... uh, I mean, the fisherman! We should keep a close eye on them, we definitely can't go wrong! Maybe we can score a huge haul!"

Xiao Ruobai: "..."

Fang Hanyu: "..."

The two looked at each other in silence, an extremely rare and indescribably complex emotion flashing through their eyes.

In that gaze was helplessness, a bit of speechlessness that this idiot was actually their teammate, and even a trace of absurdity at being openly plotted against their own home right to their faces.

Fatty Wang felt uncomfortable all over under this bizarre, silent stare. The expectant smile on his chubby face gradually collapsed, turning into apprehension and bewilderment.

"N-no... Big Brother, Second Brother... say something, will you? Is my analysis... wrong?"

Xiao Ruobai took a deep breath, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately just raised his hand and rubbed his temples rather powerlessly.

He really didn't know how to explain to this lively fool, who was enthusiastically preparing to scam his own sect, that standing right in front of him were disciples of the Azure Profound Sect's Purple Bamboo Peak.

Fang Hanyu's fingertips stopped tapping the hilt of his sword. He slowly turned his head away from Fatty Wang, casting his gaze toward the southeast, in the direction of the Azure Profound Sect's camp.

The icy sword aura swirling around them seemed to falter for a split second, as if choking on this outrageous suggestion.

Fatty Wang grew even more frantic: "Ah! Don't doubt me! My intuition is really..."

At that moment, Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu looked at the little fatty who was still stubbornly clinging to his idea. A single thought sprouted in both their minds simultaneously: should we... just finish off this little fatty and be done with it?

It would save them the trouble of this goofball actually sneaking up behind the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect one day.